Oil-filtration device



m. M 1924.. y

. J. L. .FORCE 0411. FILTRATIOMDEVICE Filed oct. 31. 1923 sheets-Shana d. mp., 19242. www

- .-J. 1L..- lFoRE OIL FILTRATION DEVICE Filed om. 31. 1923- :s sheets-sheets Patented @et ill, i924..

JOHN L. FORCE, 0F ST, LOUIS, MISSOURI. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO' D. R. FRANCIS, JR., L. R. CARTER, AND H. HENBY, ALL OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

OIL-FILTRATION DEVICE.

Application filed October 31, 1923.

To @ZZ 107mm 'it may concern.'

Be it known that l, JOHN L. Fonos, a citizen of the United States. residing at the cit-y of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oil-Filtration Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to oil filtration devices.

An object oit the invention is to provide a new principle in filtering oil by having the oil rise out of the impurities it may contain rather than having these impurities settle out ot the oil.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine or filter to practice the principle of oil filtration described, to deliver the clean oil from the filter and to receive dirty oil intov this filter for the purpose of filtration and delivery out of the filter.

Another object of this invention is to provide a filter of the class described equipped with. a novel valve to govern the flow of water into and out of the filter and with a novel means of utilizing` and controlling the power generated to operate this valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a machine of the class described an improved continuous Ytorce feed and circulating filtration system for the same use and oi" the same general character as above mentioned, having in addition the ability to i'eed filtered oil continuously to machiner)v equipped for a forced or stream feed circulating system, without other power than an adequate supply of water.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system of filtration to feed oil to the bearings or to the engine equipped for using such oil feed in a steady flow from the bottom upward, rather than from the top downward, thus enabling the filter compartment to be `at the same level as the engine requiring the oil.

@ther objects will appear from the following description reference being made to the drawings which illustrate the invention embodied in a filter of the class mentioned, and in which- Fig. l is a rear elevation of the filter.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the valve mechanism controlling the admission Serial No. 671,895.

and discharge of water into and from the filter.

Fig. 4f is a longitudinal sectional vie-w of the valve mechanism.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are cross sectional views of the valve structure taken on the lines 5-5, and 6 6 and 77, respectively, of Fig. a.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a water head and overflow device in connection with the water power mechanism. i

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the mechanism for operating' the valve to control the flow of water into and out of the filter.

Fig. lO is a sectional view of another valve included in the filter.

In the present embodiment of the invention which is designed specially to maintain a continuous force feed and circulating filtration of the oil, the tank 1 is divided into two laterally adjacent compartments by a vertical partition 2 extending from the bottom wall to the top wall of the tank. Both compartments of the tank are completely iilled with liquid to the exclusion of all air. During the filtration process there are two strata of liquid in the compartment through which filtration is being made, the lower stratum being water and the upper stratum being oil which is supported at the top because it is lighter than the water. Water is admitted 'to the compartments separately through pipes 3 extending downwardly into said compartments and having their lower ends open within the compartments, respectively, and their upper ends opening into a valve housing 4l at the top of the compartments. The pipes 3 receive water from the valve housing L through ports 5 with which the upper ends of said pipes 3 communicate.

The valve housing 4 has a water receiving chamber 6 into which a pipe 7 opens, the. same'having connection with a water supply pipe 8 arranged to receive water under pressure from any suitable source of supply, as from a city water supply system. As stated, the valve housing l is in communication with each of the pipes 3 and the novel form of valve enclosed within the housing 4t is arranged so that water will be delivered tothe -two compartments of the filter alternately, but will not be delivered to the two compartments simultaneously.

The valve within the housing lcomprises a tubular valvevm'einber 9ha'ving` a pair of i influent ports frone ot' the pipes 3 and a pair of influent ports 11 vpipes 3,the arrangement beingl for the other such that` when either one ofthe ports 10 is in position to receive water from the chamber 6 -nients into which the ports Vl() with four ports ,13, one Vof ,which is in' comniunicatioi'i' with an adjacent port 5 in any Y oth'r'p'ort' in ani'7 ofsthevalve.. water" mayV beadmitted to" oi' the adjusted positio '11. open is provided with ns ot the valve. So, alsoftlie valve chamber into which the ports four ports 14:, ofne'ot whichi's" in communication with the of the adjusted positions Thus it will be seen thatV the two compart- I'n'ehts oftV the filter alternately, but' not sii' Yside with a hamber 15 with'which the ports 1,0V and l1, respectively, are alternately brought into communication. then Aboth ofthe ports 10l are out of communication A* with the chamber 6 one ot said' ports l0v is is"y also theV case :with respect the Same" time.

in communication with the chamber 15, as n to the ports Il, although the ports 10' and iii communication with the chamberl at The chamber 1'5 opens into an overflow pipev 16 (Fig. 2') that 'discharges ber 19 vhaviitg an `air inlet pipe 20` at its VThe pipe rinto whicheth'e watersu'pply pipe 8 vopensjhasa vertical extension 18 (Fig. 8) extending upwardly within a chainupper end. .The' water entering the iilter Vunder Ypressure through the supply pipe 8 risesintov the epipel, and a part of the water `flows outl through the up'per end of Y' said'` p'ipeinto' the'chamber' 19 and thence oiit through a p'ipef2l'to the drain 17.-

@il 'is admitte'di the two compartments iTthe' tank 1 from the supply p ip'e 22 havitiff branches 23 in communication with in*- I letpipes Y24 extending downwardlyr intocompertinents in the tank and opening near Vthe bottoms lof said compartments and being provided on their lower ends with perforated Vbaiiie's25"whi`ch spread and scatter the oil entering the compartments. Each oft the branch pipes23 is provided Y withy va lcheck valve. 23 (Figi l0) that will pass through the branch pipes vvv23"intfo*the pipes 24' but willprevent the oil Y trombeing Vforced back 23iintoizthe pipe 22. The oil thusA delivered intothe water near thebo-ttoms of the comypartyi'nents `in'thetankl rises through the 1l are' never y through lthe pipes water and is thereby washed and purified.I the impurities being retained at the bottom by the water. As the oil enters a compartment at the bottom through a pipe 24 and rises to the top it expels an equal volume oi' water iromthe bottom of the tank through the pipe 3 and the outlet chamber l5 and pipi; lo tlerelroin.

Clean oil is fed to the engine from the top ot-the filter through a passage provided for that purpose. In the embodiment of the invention shown the passage comprises a pipe 27 extending some distance above the upper open end of the pipe 18 (Figs. 1 and 2) :ind having branches 23 at its lower end opening into the upper ends ot the compartments in the tank l.. From the upper end ot the pipe 27 a downwardly and laterally extejnk'l'ed pipe 29 leads to the point of deliver;v of the clean oil, a syphon breaker 30 being provided at the curved connectionv between the upper end of the pipe 27 and the pipe 29. Each oi" the branch pipes k28 is provided with a check valve 23 that wi'll permit oil to pass trom the tank 1 but will prevent oil' from returning to' the tank from the pipe 27 by way of the pipes 28.

Vilhcn 'all ot `the. oil has been forced out oi either compartment in the tank l1 the Vwater rises into the pipel 27 through the con'- nected branch pipe 28 that opens into' the c mpartment vrecei'i'ing the water under pressure. A float device is provided in' con'- n'ection with the pipe 27 and is operated by the water rising into said pipe and is pro rided with connections `for turning the valve 9y to position to stop the tlow of water into the compartment in the tank from which all of the oil had been exhausted and to admit rwater into th'e'other compartment in the tank l, which. in thev n'icantiim,` had received oil and in which oilhad been filtering.

The float device may be oi' any appropriate 'form and iu the embodiment shown comprises a receptacle 31 having lioxible tube`s`32 openingtrom its upper and lower ends into the pipe 2i'. When oil is being Vforced from either compartment through the pipe'27 the receptacle 31 is lilledwith oil'and when all of the oil has been forced out of either receptacle as above described, the water .rising into the pipe 2T forces the oil from the receptacle 31 and fills said re cept-acle with water. The receptacle 31 is mounted for vertical sliding movements in guides 33 and is provided with' a counterbalance device whereinT the receptacle is raised when filled with oil that is lighter than water and which permits thc receptacle to move dmvnwardly when it is filled with water which is heavier than oil. Obviously the oil will be forced out of the receptacle 3l through the upper flexible tube 32 when waterv enters the lower end of the receptacle 1,51 :isa i through the lower flexible tube 32. The coiu'iterbalance comprises a lever 84 having one end pivotally connected with the receptacle 2l by links 35, and the opposite end provideffl with a hollow counter-lialanco 36 that may receive weight elements such shot, or the like to maintain the device in a. conditioi'i for accurate operation. A.. lever 55? has one end pivoted to the lower end ot the receptacle 31 and is pivotally supported intermediate of its ends on an arm 38 and supports a link 39 on its tree end. The lower end ot the link 39 swings adj acent to a tourtoothed member 40 carried on a stem 4l (Figs. 3 and 4) extending' from a plug 42 attached to and closing` one end of the valve 9. rlhe lower end ot the link 39 has a detent 42 pivoted thereto and extending under the tour-toothed member 40. Accordingly, when the receptacle 3l is lowered by the weight or" the water, the link 39 is raised with the result that the valve 9 is turned to position to prevent water Jfrom VFlowing into the compartment in the tank l. from which all of the oil had` been eX- hausted and to admit water into the other compartment in the tank l which, in the meantime, had received a quantity of oil for filtration. The water risingV in the l pipe Q7 and in the receptacle 3l cannot go higher than the top ot the pipe 18. The oil now coming from the active compartment rises into the receptacle 3l and the pipe 27 and the water recedes through the oil to the bottom oi the compartment from which the oil is Flowing. The oil continues .in uninterrupted flow from this now active compartment to the point of use, and, as betore described, returns to the other or passage compartment as before describerh and this operation islrepeated each time that an active compartment is exhausted of oil.

Uien the receptacle 3l is 'tree from water the counterbalance device raises the recepe tacle and retains it in elevated position when filled with oil. The link is thereby moved downwardly to its lower position.. the dctent 4? escaping properly below the fourtoothed member 40 tor the next operation. To assist the link 39 and the detent 43 in operating; the valve 9 and to `complete the iiual movements of said valve in each operation a special device is provided. As shown (Figs. 4 and. 9) said special device comprises a weight 44 suspended by an arm 45 engaging in a quadri-lateral groove 46 in the part 40. The arrangement is such that when the valve 9 is in any one of its proper adjustments the weight 44 is in'its lowest positioinand when said valve is out oi its proper adjustment the weight 44 is supported above its lowermost position. Thus the weight 44 will act upon the valve and complete its nal turning movement at each operation.

ilach of the compartments in the tank l. is provided with a pipe 47 extending down wardly through the top of the tank and having?F their lower open ends normally near the bottom oll the tank. The pipes 47 are supported tor vertical sliding movements through the top oi' the tank and their upper ends are equipped with valves 48 which may be opened to withdraw the settlings from the tank. By moving either of the pipes 4T vertically the depth of the water in either receptacle may be determined as also the amount ot oil therein. ln their lower positions the outer valve ends of the pipes 47 are enclosed by caps 49 having` threaded en gagement with the part through which the pipes 47 extend. l

Provision is made whereby oil may be delivered into either compartment in* the tank 1 and from a source other than the engine from which the oil is returned tor liltration after use, as betere described Each of the branch pipes 23 is provided with a removable plug 5() i and 2) between the valve 2G and the end ot the pipe 23 that opens into the tank. Either plug 50 may be removed to provide an opening to receive the end et a pipe leading to a head or supply of oil at an appropriate height above the water outlet pipe 16. The oil thus passiun into the compartment will displace an equal volume ot water by 'forcing-` the water out through a. pipe 5h the valve 9 and into the chamber l5 and outlet pipe 1G. ln this connection it is api'iropriate to state also that when oil is returned to the tank l 'tor iiltration such returned oil will not enter the pipes 3, because said pipeshave their lower open ends below the ends ot the pipes 24 and also the pipes 3 are filled with water, which arrangement prevents the oil 'from entering said pipes.

lf rom the foregoing); the operation ol' my improved tilt-ration device is obvious and it will he seen that il. accomplishes all oF its intended objects` and purposes in a highly el'licient and satisfactory manner. @nce in operation the device requires very little at tention and care, since the control mechanism is operated automatically and as an incident to the use ot the apparatus. l am aware that the invention may be varied in nun'ierous particulars without deimrture from the nature and principle thereof', and I do not restrict myself unessentially, but what l Vclaim and desire to secure by lletv ters Patent is:-

l. An oil iiltration device. cinnigirisine a receptacle arranged to be iillcdfentirely with liquid to the exclusion oi air thcreftrmn.v a pipe for admitting;- oil into the receptacle and the-liquid therein near the bottom thereof. a pipe opening' into the top ot' the receptacle for conducting' the oil therefrom., and means automatically and alternately adlll) l mittin'g oil and another receptacle. f

liquid info said 2; An oil filtration device, cciiiprising a paire-I" closed receptacles arranged to be filled with liquid to the exclusion of air, means for delivering oil into said receptacles respectively and alternately near the bottom of the liquid therein, and means for withdrawing oil from said receptacles alter-r nately. l

3. An oilfiltration device, comprising a pai'rvof closed receptacles'arranged to be filled Vwith liquid to the exclusion of' air, means vfor delivering oil into said receptacles respectively and alternately near the bottom of the liquid thereiinmeaiis for withf. drawing oilA from `said receptacles alternately, and automatic means for effecting change inthewitlidrawarl of oil from one of said receptacles to withdrawal of oil from Vthe other receptacle.

4. An oil filtration device, comprising a vpair of closed-receptacles arranged tobe `iilledwith liquid` to the exclusion of air,

means for delivering oil into. said receptaclesrespectively and alternately near the .bottom ofthe liquid therein. means for with- Vdrawing oil nfrom VYsaid' receptacles alternately, and automatic means for-effecting change in the admissionoic oil to one of said receptacles to the admission of oil to the vother receptacle;y

5.7A`n oil filtration. device, comprising a pair of closedl receptacles arranged to be filled with liquid tothe eXclusioiiof air,

'Vmeansfor delivering Voil into said recepfio' tacles respectively and alternately near the bottom of the liquid therein, means for v,oil vto the other receptacle.

6. An loil; filtration. device; comprising a.

Vclosed receptacleairaiigedlto be filled entirely withpliquid to the exclusion of air,

' a pipe for admittingioil into the receptacle and the liquid therein near the bottom thereof, a-baile device at the open end-of said pipe for scatteringithe oil passing from the pipe, and means for conducting from the receptacle-aA volume of the liquid equal to VV"the volume Vof oil admitted there-coautomat-ically and as an incident to the admission of said oil. p

7. An. oil filtration device,v comprising a closedV receptacle arranged to be filled en- I tirely with liquid to the yexclusion of air, Va

pipe for' admittingoil into the receptacle andftheliquid therein Vnear the bottom thereof, a bafiie device at the open end of said ,pipe for Scattering the oil passing Jfrom the pipe, means for conducting from the receptacle a volume of the liquid equal to the volumeof oil admitted thereto automatically and as an incident to the admission of pair of closed receptacles arranged to be filled with liquid to the exclusion of air, pipes for delivering oil into said receptacles respectively and alternately near the bottom of thc liquid therein, means for conducting from cach receptacle a volume of liquid equal tothe volume of oil admitted thereto,

and means for withdrawing oil from said receptacles alternately.

9. An oil filtration device, comprising a pair of closed receptacles arranged to be `filled' with liquid to the exclusion of air,

mechanism lcontrolling the admission of liquid into said receptacles, means for delivering oil into said receptacles respectively and alternately near the bottom of the liquid therein, means for operating said mechanism to control the discharge 'of liquid from said receptacles in volumes equal to the volumes of oil admitted to said receptacles respectively, and means for withdrawing oil from said receptacles alternately.

10. An oil filtration device, comprising a pair of closed' receptacles arranged to be filled with liquid to the exclusionl of air, mechanism controlling the admission of liquid into said receptacles, means for delivering oil into said receptacles respectively and alternately near the bottom of the liquid therein, means for operati-iig' said mechanism to control the discharge of liquid from said receptacles in volumes equal to the volumes of oil admitted to said receptacles r spectively, means for withdrawing oil from said receptacles alternately, and automatic means for effecting change in'V the' withdrawal of oil from one of said receptacles to withdrawal of oil from the other receptacle.

` i 11. An oil filtration device, comprising a pair of closed receptacles arranged to be filled Wit-li liquid to the exclusion 'of air, mechanism controlling the admission of Vliquid into said receptacles, means for de'- livering oil into said receptacles respectively and alternately near the bottom of the liquid therein, means for operating said mechanism to control the discharge of liquid from said receptacles in volumes equal to the volumes of oil admi'ttedto said receptacles respectively, means for withdrawing oil from said receptacles alternately, and automatic Y means for effecting change in the admission of oil to one of said receptacles to the admission of oil to the other receptacle.

12. An oil filtration device, comprisinga pair of closed receptacles arranged to' be refinar filled with liquid to the exclusion of air, mechanism controlling the admission of liquid into said receptacles, means for delivering oil into said receptacles respectively and alternately near the bottom of the liquid therein, means for operating said mecha nism to control the discharge of liquid from said receptacles in volumes equal to the volunie of oil admitted to said receptacles respectively, means for withdrawing cil `from said receptacles alternately, autor ic means for eflecting change in the withdrawal of oil from one of said receptacles to withdrawal of oil from the other receptacle, and automatic means for effecting change in the admission of oil to one of said receptacles to the admission of oil to the other receptacle.

13. 1n an oil filtration device, a closed receptacle arranged to be filled with water to the exclusion of air, a valve controlling the admission of water to and the discharge of water from said receptacle, and means for admitting oil to said receptacle and thereby causing a discharge of water from said receptacle equal in volume to the volume of oil admitted.

14. In an oil filtration device, a closed receptacle arranged to be filled with Water to the exclusion of air, a valve controlling the admission of water to and the discharge of Water from said receptacle, means for admitting oil to said receptacle and thereby causing a discharge of water from said re ce tacle equal in volume to the volume of ci admitted, and means 'for operating said valve to and from position to admit water into said receptacle.

15. In an oil filtration device, a closed re ceptacle arranged to be filled with water to the exclusion of air, a valve 4cont-rolling the admission of water to and the discharge ot water from said receptacle, means for admitting oil to said receptacle and thereby causing a discharge of' water from said receptacle equal in volume to the volume of oil admitted, and means for operating said valve to and from position to permit water to be discharged from said receptacle when oil is admitted to said receptacle.

16. In an oil filtration device, a closed receptacle arranged to be filled with water to the exclusion of air, a valve controlling the admission of water to and the discharge of water from said receptacle, means for admitting oil to said receptacle and thereby causing a discharge. of water from said receptacle equal in volume to the volume of oil admitted, means for operating said valve to and from position to permit water to be discharged from said receptacle automatically and as an incident to admission of oil to said receptacle.

17. In an oil filtration device, a pair of closed receptacles arranged to be filled with water to the exclusion of air, a valve for controlling the admission of water to and the discharge of water 'from said receptacles.` mechanism for operating said valve to position to admit water to said receptacles alternately and to permit water to be discharged from said receptacles alternately, means for admitting oil into the receptacle from which the valve permits water to be discharged to cause the discharge of' a volume of water therefrom equal to the volume of oil admitted thereto, and means .for withdrawing oil from said receptacles alter nately.

18. An oil filtration device, comprising a pair of' closed receptacles arranged to be filled with water to the exclusion of air, a

valve controlling the admission of water to and the discharge of water 'from said receptacles, means for admitting oil into said receptacles alternately, means for withdrawing oil from said receptacles alternately the oil being withdrawn from one receifitacle while being admitted to the other, and means for operating said -valve automatically and as an incident to the exhaustion of' oil from one receptacle to permit discharge ot water from the receptacle from which the oil is exhausted. Y

19. An oil filtration device, comprising a pair of closed receptacles arranged to be filled with water to the exclusion of air, a valve controlling the admission oi water to and the discharge of water from said receptacles, means for admitting oil into said receptacles alternately, means 'for withdrawing Aoil from said receptacles alternately the oil being withdrawn from one receptacle while being admitted to the other, means 'for operating said valve automatically and as an incident to the exhaustion of oil from one receptacle to permit discharge `of Water from the receptacle'from which the oil is exhausted, and means for admitting oil to said last named lreceptacle and discharging therefrom a volume of water equal to the volume of oil admitted.

20. In a circulating oil ltration device, a pair of closed receptacles arranged to be filled with water to the exclusion of air, av

device controlling the admission of water to said receptacles alternately, means for admitting oil to said receptacles alternately, means for permitting discharge 'from said receptacles of water equal in volume to the volume oifoil admitted as aforesaid, and piping Yfor conducting said oil in circulation from said receptacles to a point of use and from the point of use to said receptacles.

21. ln a circulating oil filtration device, a pair of closed receptacles arranged to be lilled with water to the exclusion of air, a device controlling the admission of water to said receptacles alternately, means for admitting oil to said receptacles alternatelyd llfl e; Y l '1,511,831

means for lpermitting discharge .from ysaid receptacles yol. Water equal 1n ,volumetto ,the volume of oil admittedl as aforesaid, piping from said" piping .into said receptacles .al-

ternate'ly.V

22. =l"ny an oil liltration device,a closedreyceptacle arranged to'be filled with Waterto therexclusion of air, a: valve controlling the jadmission ot' water' te andthe dischargeet VvWater from saidV receptacle, Vmeans for ad! mitting oil to said receptacle and thereby causing-the discharge et' Water trein said receptacle equal te the volume et oiledmitted, a 'pipe for conducting oil freinthe Y receptacle to a point of use, and meansor preventing the Water fromvpassing from the yreceptacle to thejpoint of use of the oil.

`23. 1nV an oil'iltratienvdevice, a cesed receptacle 'arranged to be filled `with Ywater to the lexclusion of air,a valve controllingvthe admission of Water to andzdischaige et Water from -saidrecepta'clm meansior admitting oil to Vsaid receptacle and thereby Water l -riemssaid 24. AInan o illiltration device, aclosed re cepta'cle .arranged tof'be filled with water to the exclusion of air, a `valve con rolling the admission of- Waterl to .anddischarge .of

water 'from said receptacle, means :for ad niitting oil tosaid receptacle and thereby causing the discharge of Water from said receptacle equal to thevolume of oill admitted, means for controlling said valve to maintain l the :desired feedpressure of Water-toV-force s poi nt 'olf use,

Yduetingfqil from said receptacles to a point of usev and from .the point of use to said receptacles, and means for controllingl said valve tovmaintain desired pressure of water to force `the oil through said pipe to the pointof use. i

26. Aneil liltration device, comprising a pairof closed receptacles arranged to be filled with Water to the exclusion of air, a valve controlling the admission of water to said receptacles alternately, a pipe .for cenductingoil from said receptacles to a point of useland Ifrom the pointer' use to saidreceptacles, means for controlling said valveto maintain desired pressure ot water to force the oil through said pipe to the .and means .forrutilizing the force ot the water to etl'ect change in the passagevoi: oil rfrom one receptacle to the passage of oilfrom the other receptacle to the point of use.

27. An oiltiiltration device, comprising a pair of closed receptacles arrangedyto he filled With-Waterto the lexclusion of air, a valve controlling the admission yof water to sai-d receptacles alternately, a pipe for conducting eil from said lreceptacles to a point -feit use and from the point ol use to 'said receptacles, means'for controlling said valve `JOHN L. renee. 

